By Sabina Elago
WINDHOEK– The newly-established Namibia Childhood Cancer Parents Support Organisation (NaCCaPSO) for kids diagnosed with cancer held a childhood cancer awareness march on Saturday on the occasion World Childhood Cancer Day
A bout 60 participants marched down Independence Avenue, handing out pamphlets to the public to raise awareness of the early warning signs of childhood cancer. Each participant shared a message of ‘We Care’. Among those who march were parents and family members of the children diagnosed with cancer, NaCCaPSO members, nurses, students from International University of Management (IUM) and Volunteers. The Director of NaCCaPSO, Amandy Solomon, said the focus is often on adult cancer however children get cancer too and childhood cancer awareness is often missing.
NaCCaPSO, was launched in 2009 and today they a registered welfare organisation. “We have two mothers’ ward in 8 West, Windhoek Central Hospital, working Monday to Friday, assisting with the care of the cancer children and their parents. They have daily Spiritual meetings, regular educational programmes for parents, craft sessions to teach mothers new skills, tea meetings, assist with school program, bathing and feeding of the children,” said Solomon.
They are involved in awareness-raising regarding the early warning signs of childhood cancer. They visit schools and share this information during school assemblies and give each learner a pamphlet to take home to share with their parents. “We realise the importance of prevention and therefore we promote healthy lifestyles,” says Solomon. “With limited ward facilities to accommodate both children and parents, one of our goals for 2014 is to open a parent house to make it easier for parents to be close to their children while they are on treatment. The earlier cancer is diagnosed the better the outcome, therefore we engage in different public awareness march, media coverage, school visits, public talks and handing out pamphlets and posters,” says Solomon.
Petrina Kakunda a parent says she is thankful that NaCCaPSO is helping them and she wish they get the fund they need to start with the parents’ house. “I know they are doing all they can to come up with that house I am just calling up the nation to help assist them where they can.”